The Road

An empty high way stretched out from underneath my truck as I rolled down the cracked pavement behind the camper. Overgrown grass twisted on the edges of the road and up through the cracks, along with an abundance of wild flowers scattered through the fields. Outside was so quiet I swear I could hear every sound in rural Georgia. It was peaceful. So much so that I sometimes think the world is much prettier, much more serene now then it was a year ago.

Zombies or not.

It was late August and the sun beat down on everything, and I could hear the sear of my tires and the camper's on the hot pavement. We were coming from Wichita and headed for Atlanta. Originally we had set out for Texas but Robert figured Atlanta would be a better option. He'd said he'd heard something about a CDC from one person. Someone else said Atlanta wasn't overrun. But you know how it works, the people from the south hear rumors about up north being clear while people up north hear the same thing about the south. Robert figured anyplace was better then where we were.

Almost a year ago we had group of 23, hiding out in an apartment. It was nice up there, really, and we had enough food and heavy protection. But things happen, I guess. There are only five of us now.

I saw the camper screeched to a slow stopped in front of me and I knew it was my signal. We went though the same drill every time we came across a herd of abandon cars. I parked the truck close behind and jumped out, grabbing my twelve-gage. I was quiet and sly, leaving my door open and rushing to the side of the camper. I was flat against it, sliding down to the hood. I peeked my head out and then my gun. There was nothing but abandoned cars.

I slid back and pounded my fist once against the camper door.

"Coast is clear."

The door swung open and my seven-year-old sister came flying out. Her red-brown hair gleamed in the light, and set off her pale skin and wide, hazel eyes. I kept telling her she'd be a heartbreaker in a few years.

"Bellie!" She said, throwing her arms around my waist. "I've missed you soooo much!"

I laughed. "You slept in the camper for one night."

She clung to me as I tried to pry her off playfully. Her head barely reached my rib cage. "I like sleeping in your truck better."

"I doubt that."

She giggled wildly. "Dean let me sleep on the couch and he slept on the floor."

"Did he?"

"It's true." Dean stood in the doorway, smiling, before taking a hop down to the pavement. He ruffled Abi's hair and grabbed my hand.

Dean was a year older than me with green eyes and a boyish grin. He was my best friend before all of this, but if I wasn't mistaken we were expected to be something more now. As if the sudden lack of people and options automatically made Dean my boyfriend, because who else was there to be with? It was logical that we be together, rational even. I gave him a weak smile.

Robert and jack jumped out of the camper. They were both decent, middle-aged men, but I had no ties to them outside of Robert knowing my farther a long time ago from work or something, but I didn't meet him until after the world ended. Robert ran his hand through his thinning gray-blonde hair. "We've gotta be fast."

We all nodded in agreement.

"Here's what we're going to do," he said. "We're going to split up and get whatever we can from these cars, food medicine, clothes, blankets. Load them into the R.V." He motioned to the deserted cars scattered along the highway we were stopped on. Robert was our unofficial leader; he had been since the attack in Wichita. We were some of the only survivors, the others broke off into their own group, and we broke off into ours. They were headed north last time we checked. We were headed south.

Robert pointed to Jack. "You and I'll go strait ahead. Stop after about twenty cars." He faced me and pointed the opposite direction down the highway. "Arken you head up that way with Dean."

Dean let go of my hand and disappeared into the R.V, coming back with his handgun. I pulled Abilene off me and took her hand tight in mine. Our group broke up, heading in opposite directions.

We searched through the cars, not finding anything that someone hadn't found before. Dean found half a bottle of Ibuprofen and an unopened Gatorade, and I found a blanket. Dean delivered the supplies to the R.V then disappeared to scavenge more cars farther down the way. I was alone for a while, besides Abi.

She tugged on my hand as I tried prying a rusted door off of an old Ford with what looked like two cans inside. "Bellie." She said.

I ignored her, pulling the handle of the door that wouldn't budge. I'd almost gotten it when Abi tugged again.

"Dammit." I said, kicking my leg up on the side of the truck and pulling on the handle harder.

"Bellie!" Abi yelled. The rusted handle broke off, leaving a sharp piece of shrapnel sticking out from the door and sending me flying backwards, landing hard. The handle clattered to the ground.

"What?!" I asked her, looking up to my little sister. She pointed behind me, towards the woods. I knew it had to be walkers.

I shot up to my feet, drawing my gun out. But I didn't need it.

Dean stood at the side of the road with two men. No one had their weapons drawn. I turned quickly to Abi.

"Abilene, stay here." I warned her, then hurried off toward the men.

They looked at me as I approached. "What's going on?" I asked, looking at Dean and the two men, one with a sheriff's hat and the other with a crossbow.

The shorter one that wore a sheriff's hat over his wavy dark hair nodded at me.

"Everything's fine, Arken." Dean assured me. "They live up the road on a farm. Just here to do what we're doing."

"We don't want any trouble." Sherriff said. "You guys with anyone?"

"Yes." I said. "Two other men and my little sister."

He nodded. "Well, we'll stay outta your way. Goanna search the cars a little farther down the road."

"Alright." Dean said, nodding to them, then grabbing my hand as we walked off.

"They seem nice." I said as we made our way back toward the cars.

"Yeah."

We slipped around a van and suddenly my back was up against the hot medal and Dean's face was close to mine. He grinned at me, his smile innocent but his eyes mischievous. He pecked my lips and played with my hair. I tried not to roll my eyes.

"Not now, Dean." I said. He kissed me again.

One of his hands found it's way to my waist while the other stroked my jaw.

"This is the first time we've been alone in weeks." He said in my ear.

He was right. We had been on the road for nearly three weeks, sleeping with everyone in the R.V. He had been deprived of time making out with me while I complained the whole time. Somehow the poor guy never stopped wanting to do it anyways.

I pushed him off me a little. "We really should be looking."

He stepped back and took my hand in his. "There's only one thing I want to be looking at."

I couldn't help but smile. "Your pick up lines don't work on me anymore."

He moved a little closer. "They've gotten me this far."

He kissed me on the cheek quickly and sweetly and I turned my head, laughing. I don't think he knew how much truth there was behind my words.

It almost made me feel guilty.

"Alright, point taken."

He smiled at me once more before his lips moved toward mine. I was contemplating whether or not I should kiss him when he stepped back.

"What was that?" He said, his head snapping the opposite direction.

"I didn't hear-" A shrill scream interrupted me.

It was Abilene's.